Brennan hired for clergy sex abuse trial

PHILADELPHIA, July 31 (UPI) -- A month after defending a Philadelphia priest in a clergy sex abuse trial, lawyer William J. Brennan Jr. confirmed he will represent another priest at trial.

Brennan said Monday he has been hired to represent Rev. Andrew McCormick, who is charged with molesting a 10-year-old altar boy in 1997 at St. John Cantius parish in Bridesburg, Pa., the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday.

Brennan recently defended Rev. James J. Brennan, who was accused of attempted rape and child endangerment charges involving a 14-year-old boy in 1996. The jury in that trial said June 22 it could not reach a verdict, and the District Attorney's Office has since announced it would retry Brennan. The lawyer and the defendant are not related.

McCormick's preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin in Municipal Court on Aug. 17, the newspaper said.

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